Deer Deer Deer

[azcowpuncher]

Archery deer season opens next weekend , already got me a buck spotted and just gotta make it out there opnin mornin and stick him . I didnt get a good look at what he has got but you can bet there will be pictures posted soon .

[Mike]

Our archery deer season doesn't begin until Oct 15.

That takes them past the withdrawal time for the de-wormer we poured on them last month.

[azcowpuncher]

Well we dont have huntin ranches here in Arizona its all in the wild ya know , I damn sure cant wait i am just wonderin how many guys have spotted the same buck i have haha . Thats if i cant find that sob on opening morning . Our archery deer here is over the counter tag so everyone who thinks they know how to shoot a bow goes huntin and we end up with alot of crippled wildlife hunters and livestock .

[Mike]

[Turkey Track Bar]

Look forward to the photos and story that go with it.

Cheers---

TTB

[azcowpuncher]

Well what are you talkin bout dewromer Mike i guess i dont understand i am sorry , i thought you were talkin bout one of them huntin deals .

[Northern Rancher]

Ty and his buddy have been spotting last few nights after supper-just deciding which hawg to hunt-hasn't rained in a month so our waterhole stands should be good-pretty good chance of plunking a bear at one of them too. I've had a bear scratch his butt on my stand ladder before-pretty funny stuff. Saw some real nice bucks down around Fort Walsh last weekend.

[Mike]

The First Key Factor
The first factor would be to develop a well-planned layout. The layout should take the wild Whitetail deer's behavior into consideration. This means fields and runways should be set up so that during round-up, the herd can escape from you and into the holding pen. Fenced paddocks must lead to a central alley, whick leads to the holding pen.

Always keep in mind that the deer's natural instinct is to get away from you; therefore do not end the alleyway directly into the facility. A more effective method would be to have the alleyway turn into the facilities. This will enhance the deer's perception of escape, which will decrease their level of excitement resulting in a faster round-up.

Also keep in mind that the width of your alleyways should never be tapered in a "V" shape in the same direction you want to move the deer. Deer react adversely to the funnel effect this shape of alleyway creates.



The Second Key Factor
The second important factor to handling wild Whitetail deer is to have an effective holding pen and a safe and efficient handling system. A minimum of one holding pen (approximately 40' x 60' constructed of solid walls) at the handling facility will be necessary. Movement of deer from the holding pen to the handling facilities and between pastures and the handling facility is of the utmost importance. This movement is accomplished with gates and alleyways or dividing fences leading the deer in the desired direction.

Safety and Efficiency
Safety and efficiency can be achieved by answering the following questions when purchasing or building a Whitetail deer handling system:

Is the system fast, efficient and safe for both the animal and the operator?
Does the cradle allow for good access of the deer's body for viewing or working?
To make TB testing, tagging, velveting, sexing, inseminating and DNA testing easy, does the system provide good access from the front, side and back?
Can it handle deer of all sizes, with or without antlers?
How about future expansion, and will it serve your needs for many years to come?
Is resale value something you should consider?




The Third Key Factor
The third key factor to success in handling wild Whitetail deer is to have at least one experienced deer handler. Inexperienced deer handlers may make the mistake of believing that deer can be herded like cattle. It is important to understand that you do not herd the Whitetail deer. All that is required in order to maneuver the Whitetail deer into the handling facilities is to position yourself into the deer's habitat. Work with the deer's natural instinct to move away from you by strategically placing yourself in a position where the deer will be moving away from you, but in the direction of the alley and handling facilities. This enables the deer to perceive that they are going where they want to, but in reality it is exactly where you want them to go. Something like the taxman, you've got him right where he wants you. Continue to cautiously and slowly enter their comfort zone until they have entered the holding pen.


The Final Three Key Factors
Slowly and cautiously maneuvering the deer in your desired direction leads you to the final three key factors in handling Whitetail deer: patience, patience and patience! Round up with patience. If you do not succeed in getting your animals down the alley and into the holding pen the first time, simply re-enter their habitat, but this time from a different direction. It is important to be patient and leave them time to enter the alleyway and re-enter their pen if they wish to. Pressuring or herding deer can cause accidents, therefore, regardless of how long it may take, be prepared to move at their pace. Your round up may take ten minutes or it may take the deer an hour to gather the courage to move all the way to the handling facilities.


Suggestions
Anything that enables deer to move faster will definitely be appreciated; therefore a few other suggestions can be made. Before rounding up your deer, always check your gates and ensure that everything is set up correctly. You want your deer to be able to run into the handling facilities without any interruptions. Latching gates open helps to ensure that the gates do not fly closed from a gust of wind, which would make the deer fearful of getting close to it again. The last suggestion is to remember that deer are a herd animal and will panic if they are separated from the rest of the group, therefore if a deer has been separated from the group try not to herd him by himself.

Keeping the six key factors and the suggestions mentioned above in mind will help to guarantee success in your wild Whitetail deer handling experiences. Good luck!

The ones' that don't get penned are roped by trained chimps tied into a saddle on a Shetland pony.

[Maple Leaf Angus]

Aww MIke, that's a lot of work you are going to for just a little venison. Up here, we just sprinkle a little salt on their tails the week before the hunt starts.

[azcowpuncher]

I dont handle the whitetails i just shoot them . Anyway we dont have that many whitetails here anyway . Yeah i seen a nice buck last year 5x5 those are gettin pretty rare around here anymore . Most folks like to go down to the desert and hunt those couse deer but there is not meat to them once you got them skinned out and de boned you only get about 20 pounds of meat if your lucky .

[Mrs.Greg]

What kind of deer are you hunting AZ?Around here we have whitetail and Mulies,both get nice and big, being grain fed all summer.Really good meat.

We also can hunt moose on a draw.

Our 23 yr old daughter is trying her first time on the bow this year,season starts Sept.1 She usually likes the gun but wants to try the bow.Shes been going out with the bow,target practicing on gophers


Hubby has tree stands up around our river pasture.

[Mike]